I've heard that you should stretch out the Zman TRD baits and run them under water to rinse some of the salt out of them so they will stand up better on the mushroom jig...is this true or does it not make much difference?

None of the TRDs I bought have any salt on them. Did you get some with salt? The zinker z baits are salted.

Sounds like you're thinking of the Zinker.

I think they may have some salt because I test every pack in a bowel of water to see if they float. There is always some that will sink to the bottom. I  take these and do what you are talking about, stretch them and run them over warm water until they do float.

TRD's have salt. From Daniel Nussbaum, Z-Man Fishing Products general manager, via Ned:

Quote

 

“The main reason why we include salt in our baits is to decrease the buoyancy of the baits or even make them sink, in the case of the ZinkerZ. ElaZtech will sink at around a 40-percent salt content, and at 45 percent salt, the ZinkerZ are designed to sink out of the package at a rate similar to other stickbaits on the market. Adding salt also increases the weight of bait. For instance, we manufacture the Fatty Z with a 25-percent salt content because it provides more casting weight than the 15-percent salt content of our Finesse WormZ, giving it a slightly faster sink rate with a 1/8 ounce jig, and allowing it to sit on the bottom at close to a 45-degree angle when it affixed to a Texas-style slip-sinker rig or fished on a shaky head jig; the Finesse WormZ ,on the other hand, will stand up straight.

“When we started making the Hula StickZ and Finesse T.R.D., we sought to vary the salt content and hardness of the material to create the buoyancy, texture, and feel of a well-worn 2 1/2-inch ZinkerZ right out of the package. All of our material hardness factors are proprietary, but with the 30-percent salt content and softer ElaZtech formulation used in the Hula StickZ and Finesse T.R.D., we have created a pretty good balance. Thus, right out of the pack, these baits should float off the bottom and sink at a slow rate, while offering the softness and texture that is ideal for Midwest finesse fishing.

“Because the ZinkerZ contain 50 percent more salt than the Finesse T.R.D. and Hula StickZ, it actually becomes more fragile over time because there is less ElaZtech and more pores. All things being equal, a Finesse T.R.D. will last longer than a 2 1/2-inch ZinkerZ."

 

 

The TRD does have salt in it. Just stretch it some and rub the salt out.

Do you have to rub the salt out even? It sounds like it's made that way for a reason. I just don't want to alter the product unless it's truly necessary.

Fill your sink up with water and throw a TRD in it. Then stretch it and rub the salt out and put it back in the sink. It floats much better with no salt.

3 hours ago, Brett's_daddy said:

Do you have to rub the salt out even? It sounds like it's made that way for a reason. I just don't want to alter the product unless it's truly necessary.

Doesn't hurt it, just makes it better,  makes it stand tail up on the bottom.

On 7/1/2016 at 4:22 PM, Bass_Fanatic said:

Fill your sink up with water and throw a TRD in it. Then stretch it and rub the salt out and put it back in the sink. It floats much better with no salt.

i like to stretch the "tail" this way it sticks up

Hm, I was wondering why a couple of TRDs wouldn't stand up.

4 hours ago, boostr said:

Hm, I was wondering why a couple of TRDs wouldn't stand up.

 

Must need more fiber!  

On 7/1/2016 at 9:09 AM, Team9nine said:

TRD's have salt. From Daniel Nussbaum, Z-Man Fishing Products general manager, via Ned:

 

So I guess I am not crazy when I thought that a desalted Zinkerz had more action than the TRD. I actually prefer the Zinkerz over the TRD because of this, they also feel softer too, not that the fish would notice that.

5 hours ago, boostr said:

Hm, I was wondering why a couple of TRDs wouldn't stand up.

All joking aside, I had the same issue, I had originally thought that they were supposed to be more buoyant than a Zinkerz, I got learned on that one.

5 hours ago, boostr said:

Hm, I was wondering why a couple of TRDs wouldn't stand up.

v I a g r a ? 

I just buy a bag of Zoom Original Trick Worms. The "Originals" have no salt added. 20 to a bag, cut off the head & tail to your desired length - 40 baits. You're welcome.

32 minutes ago, 1201vilbig said:

I just buy a bag of Zoom Original Trick Worms. The "Originals" have no salt added. 20 to a bag, cut off the head & tail to your desired length - 40 baits. You're welcome.

And a pack of TRD's will still outlast them by a long shot.

2 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

And a pack of TRD's will still outlast them by a long shot.

X2

1 hour ago, Bluebasser86 said:

And a pack of TRD's will still outlast them by a long shot.

Maybe so, but I don't have to soak, rub or stretch. Not counting they're $2.99 at my local Walmart several times a year.

On a totally unrelated note, the Berkley Powerbait Twitch Tail Minnow works awesome if you like to swim it.

 

5 minutes ago, 1201vilbig said:

Maybe so, but I don't have to soak, rub or stretch. Not counting they're $2.99 at my local Walmart several times a year.

On a totally unrelated note, the Berkley Powerbait Twitch Tail Minnow works awesome if you like to swim it.

 

I don't do anything with my TRD's, just fish them. The fish do plenty of rubbing and stretching  I'm not worried if mine float, they rarely hit the bottom or stop moving anyways.

The Power Minnow was my original Ned Rig before I knew what a Ned Rig was 

5 hours ago, 1201vilbig said:

Maybe so, but I don't have to soak, rub or stretch. Not counting they're $2.99 at my local Walmart several times a year.

On a totally unrelated note, the Berkley Powerbait Twitch Tail Minnow works awesome if you like to swim it.

 

 

Ive never done any of that fwiw and they work fine for me.  Nothing is more durable this side of shoe leather though!!  

Heck with water, not sure if there is any reason not to do this, but, as with other soft plastics, I've been "marinating" my TRDs in attractant, usually some dr juice tournament bass, or some of the bang garlic scent. Works great, gives it a nice texture, and it still stands just as it's supposed to. 

32 minutes ago, JPascavage52 said:

Heck with water, not sure if there is any reason not to do this, but, as with other soft plastics, I've been "marinating" my TRDs in attractant, usually some dr juice tournament bass, or some of the bang garlic scent. Works great, gives it a nice texture, and it still stands just as it's supposed to. 

 

Just don't use JJ's!  You'll come back to a soupy science experiment looking scenario lol

11 minutes ago, Master Bait'r said:

 

Just don't use JJ's!  You'll come back to a soupy science experiment looking scenario lol

I've heard that comment before but a recent post here had pictures and comment to the contrary. I don't know what is 100% accurate.

Have you actually tried this, are you commenting from your actual experience. Or from internet reading etc? 

Just did a quick search, and they say that using JJS on Zman plastics will dissolve them. Don't have any real life evidence or experience to say whether or not this is true lol.

But, I found this bag of black senkos from last year that I must've had sitting in Dr. Juice. The stuff is starting to solidify and turn gooey, and it stinks to high heaven. Strangely, it seems to be like a magnet to bass. 

On 7/7/2016 at 7:01 AM, S. Sass said:

I've heard that comment before but a recent post here had pictures and comment to the contrary. I don't know what is 100% accurate.

Have you actually tried this, are you commenting from your actual experience. Or from internet reading etc? 

 

If what you're doin works, why change?